Gathering Storm (33 page)

“Do you need me to do anything?” Siobhan asked as she rose from the chair

“Yes, I want you to wear this tonight” Claire responded as she handed Siobhan a necklace with a beautiful amethyst hanging off it.

“What is this?”

“It’s to help you find the strength and calm you will need”

“Thank you”

Siobhan pulled the necklace over her head and immediately felt the stone warm against her skin. She felt the calmness filling her, easing the tension within her tired body. Turning, she gave Sarah a hug, followed by Shawn and the went up to her room.

Opening the door, the emptiness swam around her as she saw Jason’s things lying on the bed. A small whimper fell from her lips as she walked over to the bed. Picking up Jason’s shirt, she brought it to her face, breathing in she felt the warmth of him encircle her.

“Jason, wherever you are I hope you are truly happy” Siobhan muttered as she gazed out into the darkness.

1
9
CHAPTER
Nineteen

Lifting his head, Jason looked around the room bleary eyed. “Siobhan?” he called out

“Shh…tis just a dream” Moira whispered seductively into his ear as she eased his back onto the pillows.

“God, I could have sworn I heard Siobhan” Jason mumbled as he pulled Moira closer to him

“She can’t reach you here my love” Moira crooned sweetly as she brought her lips to his

Groaning, Jason pulled her closer to him as passion raged inside him. Pulling away he opened his eyes and stared into Moira’s hauntingly beautiful gaze. He wanted to lose himself within the depths of those striking eyes forever.

“I love you” he whispers into her mouth

Rising slowly, Moira looks into Jason’s face, searching his warm brown eyes. She sees the truth to his words, a smile ghosting her lips.

“Mine” she moans as she pulls him to her tightly.

“Always” Jason answers

Marcus passes inside the darkness of the woods, his anger raging wildly inside him as the chaos festers. He watches the candles glowing softly against the glass windows of the house beyond. He wants to storm inside the old woman’s home and grab his son. He wants to get him as far away from this place as he can, before Baliel finds him and does gods know what.

“What is tearing you apart?” Ash asks calmly as he approaches Marcus

“Nothing that concerns you” Marcus retorts

“Really?” Ash asks with a raised brow “As I recall your son has my beloved in that house. So I think it does concern me”

A growl escapes Marcus lips as he turns stomping towards Ash “Leave my son out of this”

“I can’t he is as much a part of this as we are”

“Bloody hell” Marcus runs his hands through his hair in frustration

“I know what she is going to try to do tomorrow night, Marcus is she capable?” Ash asks quietly

“I honestly don’t know” Shaking his head Marcus turns and gazes back at the quiet house “She has power Ash, I don’t know to what extent, or if she is even aware of it”

“I felt it tonight”

“What” Marcus hissed through his teeth “When?”

Earlier tonight, the ring on her finger it felt the vibration of something” Ash turned to look at the house, a sullen look crossing his face

“Do you understand it” Marcus asks closing his eyes

“No, the house protected her, the vibration I got was limited”

“Then I guess we can only wait”

“I don’t want to wait”

“Well what the bloody hell do you want to do Ash?” Marcus turns to face Ash “We are at an impasse brother, you cannot change whatever the fates have laid out”

Marcus watches as a sea of emotions flashes across Ash face before sadness settles. Shaking his head, Marcus pats Ash on his shoulder before turning and walking into the darkness.

Sighing heavily Ash turns back to the house to see a shadow pass in front of Siobhan’s window. Stepping forward his muscles tense as he sees the candle flicker then go out. Racing to the edge of the woods, he eyes widen as he sees the back door open.

Siobhan eases out of the house, closing the door as quietly as she can. Turning, she gazes at the edge of the darkened woods ahead.  Walking down the steps, she steps into the dewy grass and slowly walks towards Ash. Stepping out of the shadows, he watches the moonlight playing in her hair as it lights the path before her.

Siobhan stops a few feet from the entrance of the woods, glancing behind her to make sure no one has gotten up. She turns back towards the woods, biting her lower lip, she closes her eyes as she whisper’s Ash’s name.

The wind silently picks up her call, carrying it quickly to Ash.  Stepping out of the shadows, Ash features are caught in the moon’s light. Siobhan opens her eyes to stare into the storm green eyes watching her silently.

“Who are you?” Siobhan timidly asks

“You know who I am” Ash’s lilting voice replies seductively around her

“Do I?” Siobhan whispers

Stepping closer to Siobhan, Ash lifts his hand to caress her face. Siobhan’s watches as his hand trembles as he runs it down her cheek. Sucking in a breath Siobhan feels the coolness of his touch wrap around her consuming her. Leaning her head into his touch, she reaches up to clasp his hand.

Groaning Ash, steps closer to her, pulling her into his arms protectively as he feels the chaos dancing gleeful around them.

“I am yours” Ash whispers into her ear before softly kissing it

“Then why don’t I know you?”

“You do, you just haven’t called them memories to you aghra”

“What did you do to us?”

“I thought I was keeping us together” Ash whispers hoarsely “It was a foolish mistake, that if I could go back and change I would”

“Why were you trying to keep us together” Siobhan asks

“You are my beloved, my soul, the first time I saw you, I went mad with wanting you”

A shiver runs through Siobhan as she listens to Ash, looking up at him, she sees a myriad of emotions play across his face. His body trembles as he holds her, it’s been so long since she has come to him on her own. It wasn’t a dream brought on by him that brought her out here this night.

“Why did you come?” Ash asks

“I had to see you” Siobhan responds “I want to remember you, I do, but I also don’t want to feel whatever pain you may bring me”

“I would never hurt you”

“But that’s just it, you have hurt me at some point otherwise I would know you”

The pain in Ash’s voice touches Siobhan, her heart breaking; she raises her hand to his face. Touching it softly, she watches as Ash’s eyes close, a sad smile ghosting his lips.

“You have no idea what your touch does to me” Ash groans before leaning down and capturing Siobhan’s mouth with his.

Ash’s lips send a river of passion shooting through Siobhan. Heat floods her entire body as she runs her hands through Ash’s blonde hair. Groaning into Siobhan’s mouth, Ash deepens the kiss as he pulls her to him. Heat rushes through Siobhan as she feels Ash’s hands trailing down her back. The ring on her fingers scalds her with blinding heat just as Ash pushes away from her.

Breathing heavily Ash stares at Siobhan wild eyed as he watches her bring the ring up.

“Why did the ring zap me?” Ash asks between gulping breaths of air

“I don’t know” Siobhan answers in bewilderment “I thought this was your ring?”

“It is…it’s only to keep away others”

“So that is why Jason couldn’t touch it” Siobhan mutters

“Yes, but now it is keeping me away from you. What did you do tonight?”

“I don’t understand…”

“Don’t you?” Ash retorts shaking his head wearily “You did something today, awakened something inside you that was dormant. Whatever you did, the ring doesn’t know me anymore”

“I’m sorry” Siobhan mumbles as she looks away from the torment on Ash’s face

“Can you tell me what you were thinking at the time?” Ash asks softly

Taking a deep breath Siobhan turns to look at Ash, the wind softly caresses her face, pulling tendrils of her hair into the air.

“God even the elements are responding to you” Ash voice rumbles low

“I was thinking about losing myself to everyone..even you and that I don’t even know you. I wanted the ring to be mine, to not be your possession over me”

“Oh god” Ash’s eyes grow wide in shock

“I felt this overwhelming power consuming me; I felt its strength caress my heart. It was seductive, wicked really”

“You have taken the ring I gave you long ago as a promise and broken its bonds Siobhan”

“This ring you gave to the girl that doesn’t exist anymore”

“Dammit Siobhan you are the same girl” Ash growls

“How can I be the same one?” Siobhan retorts

“I don’t know, but you always come back to me” Sighing heavily Ash looks over to see Siobhan staring at him wide eyed

Turning abruptly Ash stomps a couple of steps away from Siobhan. Anger radiating off of him as he feels the chaos within screaming to be free, the need to lash out. Raising his hands, he lets some of the energy disperse around him.

Lightning flashes brightly in the sky as thunder rumbles loudly as the energy calls the coming storm closer. Feeling the shift in the energy around her, Siobhan wraps her arms tightly around her.

“What are you doing Ash?”

“Letting this anger out the only way I know how”

“I don’t want the storm”

“Well the storm is coming so deal with it”

“Why do you continue to chase me if I anger you so?”

“Do you really need to hear the answer?”

“Yes” Siobhan replies softly

Running his hands through his hair, Ash turns to face Siobhan. Her emerald eyes glistening in the moonlight with unshed tears, Ash’ s head reels as he sees the pain whisper across her face.

“My heart is bound to you; after all we have been through… You are lucky in the sense that your memories always stay buried. I have tried to no use to let you go, to try and let the memory of us go. I can’t stay away from you, my soul will always hear your call in every lifetime”

Stepping closer to Siobhan, Ash runs his hands down her cheek softly as she leans into his embrace sighing.

“You are my soul mate, my beloved; my heart will never know another love but yours”

“Tell me what I have to do to remember Ash…please” Siobhan asks earnestly

“I don’t know and even if I did, I’m bound to only give so much to you” Ash answers coolly

Leaning down, Ash lightly brushes his lips over Siobhan’s as the anguish consumes him. He has said too much as it is and knows he must leave her. He can’t interfere any more than he already has in her version of this life. Clenching her hair between his fingers, the soft caress as the curls wrap around him finger. A ghost of a smile plays across his lips stealing Siobhan’s breath.

“I must go” Ash drops his hands stepping back

“No, please don’t go, I want to know you” Siobhan pleads stepping closer to Ash

Groaning in defeat, Ash closes the distance between Siobhan and himself. Pulling her face up and ravaging her mouth as power consumes him. The need to possess every inch of Siobhan fills his head as he teases her lips with his tongue. Sighing, Siobhan opens to let him in and the kiss deepens.

Ash suddenly pushes away from Siobhan breathing heavy “No, I have to go; your memories must come back to you on your own. I have done too much as it is”

Turning abruptly, Ash flicks his hand opening the energy between then stepping through quickly the opening closes with Ash gone. Whimpering, Siobhan reaches out to the empty space that Ash once stood, tears silently falling.

“Siobhan, what are you doing out here?” Shawn asks as he walks towards her

Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, Siobhan turns to Shawn.

“I was getting some air, Shawn, I needed to be alone and think about everything that has happened”

“I understand the need to be alone, but it isn’t safe out here”

“I don’t think Ash wants to hurt me” Siobhan replied wistfully

“No, not in the sense you mean, but he’ll hurt you in ways you will never recover Siobhan. He has torn both your souls apart, the damage that caused can never truly be made right” Shawn responded, his lilting voice filled with an unspoken anguish

“Maybe he’s trying to correct the wrong he did?” Siobhan asked tentatively

Snorting, Shawn smirked at Siobhan shaking his head “Really, then why does he continue to chase you after all this time if he is trying to right the wrong?”

“I don’t know, but I know there is something here, it calls to me as much as it calls to him Shawn” Siobhan calmly answered

“So answer me this then” Shawn hesitates as he watches Siobhan raise her eyes to his “If you feel the call to him, then why are you trying so hard to be away from him?”